It's time in dynasty leagues again to start stocking your bench with players who could pay off for you next season if you are not in the playoffs. Even in leagues with toilet bowls where you can improve your draft position, even win the #1 pick, you can afford to cut most of your depth players for players with future growth potential. For the next four weeks, I'll give you some players at each position to stash. Dynasty league roster and league sizes range from shallow to deep, so I'll break the lists in Snorkel, Scuba, and Submarine tiers to fit everyone's needs.
- Snorkel-level players are available in some leagues, especially ones with more shallow rosters.
- Scuba-level players are usually available unless your league has very deep rosters.
- Submarine-level players are often widely available, even in leagues with deep rosters.
This week is wide receiver, where you can often benefit from others' impatience.
Snorkel
Jalen Nailor (WR-MIN) - J.J. McCarthy's favorite receiver is going to hit free agency next offseason. The Vikings drafted Tai Felton in the third round this season as a possible replacement, although they could be rethinking that plan after Nailor riffed better with their possible franchise quarterback than Justin Jefferson did. Either way, Nailor has proven that he can do more if he is just given a larger opportunity, and it will be coming, whether as a member of the Vikings or on a team that offers Nailor the bag in March.
Isaiah Bond (WR-CLE) - Bond dropped out of the draft under the shadow of a sexual assault charge, but after the grand jury did not indict him, the Browns signed him. He has quickly ascended the depth chart to vie for a starting spot. Bond was considered close to his college teammate Matthew Golden as a prospect, and Golden was a first-round pick. He shouldn't be a free agent in any dynasty league.
Ryan Flournoy (WR-DAL) - The cat is already out of the bag on Flournoy, who has been productive in place of CeeDee Lamb and might be giving the Cowboys a reason to think twice about committing to George Pickens, who has regressed in recent weeks. Flournoy has already shown great chemistry with Dak Prescott, and he has a higher ceiling in dynasty leagues than most realize.
Isaac TeSlaa (WR-DET) - Surely TeSlaa is on a roster in every dynasty league. Consider this a reminder to try to "overpay" for him in the offseason. The size/speed/athleticism freak has developed well ahead of schedule and could be ready to start as early as next season, giving the Lions' pass offense another vertical dimension and mismatch.
Kyle Williams (WR-NE) - Like TeSlaa, surely no one was so foolish as to drop Williams because he is basically having a redshirt year. Drake Maye is better than anyone expected, and he and Williams have already shown deep ball chemistry. Like TeSlaa, you should be happy if you can turn a 2026 second-round pick into Williams, a prospect in a good organization who is showing signs of future fantasy relevance already.
Tank Dell (WR-HOU) - Dell's 2024 catastrophic 2024 knee injury has cost him all of this season, but don't be surprised if he's back in line to start again next season. Dell has already overcome being on a very light side for an NFL receiver, and Tyler Lockett was able to be a very productive undersized receiver after a catastrophic leg injury.
Jalen Royals (WR-KC) - Royals was having such a good summer with Kansas City that there was talk that Andy Reid might actually trust the rookie to play this season. He struggled with some knee soreness and didn't catch a pass this season, playing only 35 snaps, but he could be a big part of the future in a wide receiver group that will be experiencing a lot of turnover this offseason.
Chimere Dike (WR-TEN), Elic Ayomanor (WR-TEN) - Cam Ward's future #1 and #2 receivers might not be on the roster, but one or both of these 2025 fourth-round picks will vie for one of those spots while the Titans explore other options. Dike has more potential as a downfield receiver than deposed head coach Brian Callahan saw, and Ayomanor is a classic big frame ball winner on the outside. Ward has played better than his stats and could create more fantasy value in this passing game than most expect.
Luke McCaffrey (WR-WAS) - McCaffrey was considered raw as a receiver when he was taken in the third round back in 2024, but he was coming on in the first half of the season with some big plays (11 catches, 203 yards, and three scores on only 15 targets) before he suffered a fractured collarbone. He is a logical replacement for Deebo Samuel Sr. if the Commanders don't bring him back in free agency.
